Bed.



No. 869,911. PATENTED NOV. 5; 1907.

' H. KINTZ.

. BED.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1907.

WITNEEEKEI QJW I INVENTOR A 'TTURNEY THE umzms PETERS cb., wnsnmaron, u. c.

UNITED STATES HERBERTIIINTZ, OF SI-IARPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed May 8. 1907. Serial No. 372,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT KINTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sharpsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a new, and useful improvement in beds and is more particularly adaptable to those certain kinds of beds which em ploy an adjustable head section.

The primary object of my invention is the construction of a bed having an adjustable head section that will be of benefit to the sick and will be especially valuable in hospitals, the particular feature involved in my device being to provide a safe and easy way of raising the occupant of the bed to a reclining and restful position for all necessary purposes.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown several views of my improvementI-Figure 1being a perspective view of a bed, having adjustable head section arranged thereon and also showing means for elevating said head section to any desired angle. Fig. 2'is a similar view of a bed having my adjustable head section mounted thereon showing my preferred means for elevating the head-section. Fig. 3is an end view of a bed illustrating a modified manner of arranging the elevating means. Figs. 4 and 5*show different views of a modified means for securing the operating rope. Fig. (i illustrates manner of attaching a securing strap to the bed, and Figs. 7 and 8 show two views of the ratchet means I employ in operating the adjustable head section.

Throughout the different views shown in the drawing the numeral 1 designates the frame work of an ordinary bed constructed of metal and is the form commonly used in hospitals having a wire mesh or spring portion formed as an integral part of the frame work.

The forms shown in the drawings are what is known as single beds, but I do not limit myself to this exact form as my adjustable head-section is applicable to similarly constructed beds of various sizes and styles. Pivotally secured to each side of the frame work at a convenient position, is the adjustable head-section 2, which will preferably be provided with a wire mesh or spring portion similar to that arranged in the body of the bed. Pivotally secured about midway of the two parallel side bars forming the head section 2 are the lever arms 33 which extend downward to a predetermined distance below the under side of the bed, the length thereof being of course regulated by the distance from the floor line to the under side of the bed.

These said lever arms are preferably arranged so that they will operate on the inside of the frame work 1, the lower ends thereof engaging, and operatively resting, on an inclined guide piece 4;, attached to the frame work 1.

In Fig. 1 is shown a modification of the foregoing described feature in which I dispense with the inclined guide pieces 4 and, in order to limit the movement of said head section, substitute therefor a link 5 pivotally attached to the lower ends of said lever arms 33 and likewise to the frame work ladjacent to the head of the bed. Uniting the lower ends of these lever arms 3-3 is a brace rod 6.

The preferred means which I employ for raising and lowering the adjustable head-section 2 consists of a rope or wire cable 6 attached to each end of the brace rod 6, or in the center thereof as preferred, the said cable terminating at, or near, the foot of the bed, preferably on the under side, as shown in Fig. 2, where it is wound on a suitable spool or drum 7, the latter being keyed, or otherwise secured to a shaft 8 operatively mounted in the upright sides of the yoke 9, which is attached to and suspended from the frame work 1. Seated around one end of the said shaft 8, and rigidly secured to the outside face of the upright portion of the yoke 9 is a ratchet wheel 10 and keyed, or otherwise secured, to the end of said shaft 8, adjacent to the said ratchet wheel 10, is a crank arm 11. Pivotally mounted on this said crank arm is a pawl 12, adapted to engage in the ratchet 10. To one end of said pawl there is connected a spring member 13, the other end of said spring being joined to the crank arm 11 at any suitable part thereof. To the opposite end of said pawl there is connected a rod 14, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a lever portion 15, forming an integral part of the handle 16, which is also pivotally mounted at the upper end of the crank arm 11.

As a modified means for arranging the foregoing described operating mechanism the same may be placed at the foot of the bed as shown in Fig. 3, in which case the shaft 8 is dispensed with, the drum 7, and previously described ratchet and lever members, being carried by a supporting strap 17; the operating rope 6 passing around a sheave 18.

Still another modification is shown in Fig. 1 and by a detailed View, Fig. 4, which consists in having a downwardly depending crotch 19 secured to any suitable part of the frame work 1, in which can be secured the knotted end 20 of the cable 6 In order to raise the adjustable head section 2, the operator first pulls the handle 16, which ordinarily is extending in alinement with the end of the crank arm 11, in a position, shown by dotted lines, Fig. 7, so as to draw said crank arm upward and by so doing disengage the pawl 12 from contact with the ratchet 10 at the same time stretching the spring member 13. In

this position the operator is free to turn the crank arm 11 thus revolving the shaft 8 and winding the cable 6 over the drum 7 with the consequent drawing inward of the brace rod 6 attached to the lever arms 33, thereby causing the head section 2 to assume any required angle. dle 16, the spring 13, being held at a tension during the raising process, will relax, thereby drawing up that end of the pawl 12 and causing the opposite end to drop into the ratchet wheel 10, preventing further movement of the crank arm 11 and holding said head section in position, at the same time pulling downward on the rod 14 and drawing said handle portion 16 back to its normal position The head section may be easily lowered by releasing the pawl from contact with the ratchet, in the manner heretofore described, in which position the operator can control the movement of said head section. V

The advantage of such a bed as I have described and shown for taking care of the sick, especially in hospitals, will be readily apparent to those familiar with the difficulties and disadvantages which now confront those whose duties it is to look after and care for the sick. The patient occupying a bed constructed with my improvements can be raised to a reclining and restful position for all necessary purposes without handling Upon releasing the pressure on the han-- Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bed having an adjustable head section pivotally secured thereto lever arms pivoted to said head section, the lower ends thereof being connected by a brace rod; inclined guide members secured to the frame work upon which rests the ends of said lever arms or said brace rod; an operating rope or cable, attached to said brace rod; a suitably supported spool or drum to which is connected the operating cable and means for revolving said drum, thereby raising; or lowering said head section.

2. A bed, having an adjustable head section pivotally secured thereto; lever arms pivoted to said head section, the lower ends thereof being connected by a brace rod, inclined guide members secured to the frame work upon which rests the ends of said lever arms or said brace rod a yoke, supported by the frame work of the bed; a shaft operatively seated in said yoke a drum or spool secured to said shaft; an operating cable attached to said brace rod and drum; and ratchet controlled means secured to the end of said shaft for revolving said drum, thereby raising and loweringsaid head section.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT KINTZ.

Witnesses JOHN KRAUS, GEORGE WouKouL. 

